Europe Steps Up as US Foreign Policy Becomes More Transactional
Giorgia Valente examines how shifting US foreign policy is pushing Europe to assume a more active role in global security and diplomacy. As Washington moves toward a transactional approach, treating alliances as negotiable rather than essential, European nations are increasingly stepping in to fill the gaps, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Traditionally, the US has led Western alliances, but analysts like Mattia Diletti argue that recent years have reversed this dynamic—not because Europe is pulling away, but because the US is stepping back. “It is not Europe that dissociates itself from the United States, but it is the United States that dissociates itself from Europe, from NATO,” Diletti told The Media Line.
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The war in Ukraine is a prime example of this shift. With Washington hesitant to sustain its level of support, European nations are increasing aid and military spending. Steven Terner, a geopolitical analyst, warns that the US is losing credibility, saying, “The risk is the United States is simply losing geopolitical influence by not supporting Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, Europe and the US remain divided on the Middle East, particularly regarding peace efforts in Gaza. As Europe seeks greater strategic independence, questions remain about whether it can transform itself into a major geopolitical power or if internal divisions will prevent it from fully assuming the role Washington is leaving behind.
For a deeper analysis of this evolving global order, read Giorgia Valente’s full report on The Media Line.
